Dear All:

Version 1.1 of the TerraLook desktop software has just been released and is available at http://terralook.sourceforge.net This free desktop software is a simple and intuitive image processing and GIS package.

TerraLook provides free, recent and historical satellite images in a simple jpeg format.  Although no special software is required to use the TerraLook images, we do offer the TerraLook desktop software for those who wish to manipulate images and overlays.  More information on TerraLook, including how to order images, is provided below, or just go to http://terralook.cr.usgs.gov

V1.1 is a big improvement over V1.0.  Aside from internal improvements and bug fixes it supports a variety of new capabilities including true pan, image adjustment, collection merging, user-settable preferences, and is fully multilingual in English and Spanish (menus can also be viewed in French but the Help has not yet been translated).  V2.0, which will completely remake the look and feel, will be available in 2009.

Comments welcome!

Best wishes,

Gary


1.  The US Geological Survey is the “operational partner” with NASA and they provide the tools to find and order the images.  They are also working on outreach and providing materials explaining how images can be used and for various workshops.  The TerraLook website is at  http://terralook.cr.usgs.gov
 
2.  To obtain images the process is simple:

• Select and Order Images.  Use the USGS “GloVis” tool, which is explained at the above website.
• You will receive an email message and download instructions when your order is ready.
• Download a zip file which contains the images and other information.
• Use the free TerraLook software, or any software tool of your choice, to view and work with the images.

3.  Full-country image collections have been created for many countries and can be downloaded--no need to order them.  These are available at http://asterweb.jpl.nasa.gov/TerraLook_download.asp Currently available countries include:

• All of Central America
• All of South America
• All of Southeast Asia (except for some Indonesian islands)
• India
• Much of Africa
• Miscellaneous other countries

For most countries coverage includes: complete coverage for 1975, 1990, and 2000, and coverage of protected areas from 2000-2007

NOTE:  Most of these collections are large and require a very good Internet connection (apologies for that; size is specified in the .txt file associate with each collection.)  We hope that CD or DVD distribution can be routinely available in the future; in the meantime I can send out a limited number by CD/DVD for those with no other options.
 
 4.  The images are in a "georeferenced JPEG" format.  Being JPEGs, essentially everyone with a computer has an appropriate tool to view them.  And being georeferenced means that, with any tool that has some GIS capabilities you can add overlays such as park boundaries, poaching sites, and trails.

5.  The free TerraLook software is one of these GIS tools.  It is a free, Open Source package that supports common GIS and Image Processing functions.  One advantage of this software is that it displays the "footprints" of all the images in a collection--very useful for finding the specific image of interest in collections with more than just a few images. 


______________________________________________
Gary N. Geller, Ph.D.
- Deputy Manager, NASA Ecological Forecasting Program
- Conservation Liaison, ASTER Science Project
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
MS171-264, 4800 Oak Grove Drive
Pasadena, CA 91109-8099  USA
+1 818-354-0133  FAX: +1 818-393-1370
http://terralook.cr.usgs.gov
TerraLook... Free access to satellite images
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